Did you recently shift to a work-from-home setup? With the ongoing pandemic, things will likely remain the way they are for quite a while.
Interestingly, one out of every four Americans will be working remotely this year. By 2025, analysts predict that 36 million Americans will be working at home or away from the office.
With these changing times, you need to equip yourself with the right tools to stay competitive. In a remote setup, no tool is more important than a dependable laptop. Thus, you need to invest in the best laptop for remote work.
With so many laptops available, which ones are worth taking a look at? Continue reading below for some of the best ones for remote work.
1. MacBook Pro
If you’re looking for the best laptop for remote work, you cannot bypass a Mac in your list of options. In 2018, Apple announced that there are over 100 million active Mac users.
As for the specific Mac laptop to go for, the MacBook Pro is one of the fast-performing ones out there today. It also excels in terms of versatility and usability.
The laptop features 16GB of RAM; a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 +; and a 10-hour battery life. It weighs relatively light at 1.37kg. It also comes in 13-inch and 16-inch screen variants.
The screen offers a high-resolution display. This makes it perfect for viewing videos and other presentations.
When it comes to storage, you get at least 265GB. In case you need to save tons of files and use a lot of apps, you can expand the storage for up to 4TB.
Easily, the MacBook Pro is one of the best options for people searching for a good balance of portability and usability.
2. Dell XPS 13
If you are a Windows loyalist and you don’t have those MacBooks on your radar, then the Dell XPS 13 is one of your best bets. This laptop features a 13-inch touch screen that complements an elegant design.
Compared to the MacBook Pro, it is lighter at 1.23kg. Despite being lighter, it remains powerful, thanks to its 10th Generation Intel Core i3-1005G1 + processor. Furthermore, it gives you more options in terms of memory.
Options start at 4GB of RAM up to 16GB. Going back to the screen, it features a high-quality Infinity display. In case you want something crisper, you can go for the 4K touch-display model.
3. ASUS Zenbook 13
If you are looking for something that you can easily take anywhere, the Asus Zenbook 13 is a worthy option to go for. It is one of the lightest laptops at 1.14kg. It also comes with a 13-inch screen.
Moreover, it boasts of one of the thinnest bodies at 17 millimeters. Interestingly, these numbers make the ASUS Zenbook smaller than your average A4 paper.
Nevertheless, the laptop doesn’t fall behind in terms of performance. The screen offers crisp colors in high-resolution. Meanwhile, its processing is more than decent.
Its 3.9GHz Intel Core i5-8265U processor allows you to multitask with ease. It also comes with USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. Additionally, it features a headphone jack, as well as an HDMI port.
As for the battery life, it clocks a strong 10-hour performance. Best of all, it is one of those compact laptops that doesn’t break the bank.
4. MacBook Air
Another impressive laptop from Apple that is perfect for remote work is the MacBook Air. Compared to the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air is the lighter one. It weighs a remarkable 1.27kg but packs a solid 11-hour battery life.
Furthermore, it comes with a cheaper price tag. However, the MacBook Air is still one of the most solid performers among lightweight laptops today.
It uses the Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU for its processor. This gives you the same benefits that an iOS operating system offers.
When it comes to storage, your get 256Gb and 8GB of RAM. As for the other features, it comes with Apple’s Retina display, as well as the Magic Keyboard. It is compact and cheaper but remains a solid performer especially if your work is not too demanding.
5. 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard
Some people work in dynamic companies where taking on different tasks is a norm. Sometimes, they need to come up with a presentation on the fly. The next moment, they need to crunch some data.
If you belong in such an industry and you need the versatility of a tablet and the reliability of a laptop, then a 2-in-1 option like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is what you likely need.
For starters, the iPad Pro weighs 641 grams. Not as light as the MacBook Air but still light enough to carry anywhere. It also comes with a Liquid Retina display to complement the 12.9-inch diagonal LED multi-touch screen.
Powering the iPad Pro is an A12Z Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture. It also comes with a Natural Engine and an embedded M12 coprocessor.
When it comes to the Magic Keyboard, it gives you versatility in all your typing requirements. It comes with a trackpad that integrates seamlessly with your iPadOS.
The coolest feature, however, is the Magic Keyboard’s floating cantilever design. This design allows your iPad Pro or iPad Air to attach to the keyboard magnetically. In turn, it gives you remarkable flexibility in terms of adjusting to your optimal viewing angle.
6. HP Envy X360
If your work keeps you scribbling and doodling ideas often, then you need a strong laptop with a pen. Hence, the HP Envy X360 becomes a worthy candidate to consider.
It comes with a powerful processor in AMD Ryzen 7 2700U with 2.2 GHz +. As a 2-in-1 laptop, you can convert it into a tablet when working on the go. Carrying it around will not be a problem, as it weighs only 1.32kg.
You will also find the touchscreen extremely useful especially when you’re using the pen. Best of all, it boasts a long battery life that can give you up to 13 hours of top-notch performance.
7. Lenovo Thinkpad E15
Our list will not be complete without something coming from Lenovo. The Lenovo Thinkpad E15 is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable laptop for business.
This laptop is one of the most durable in the market today. It features an aluminum lid that allows it to take usual bumps. When it comes to performance, you can expect it to deliver with flying colors.
To begin with, it uses an Intel Core i5-10210U processor. In case you’re working on a lot of numbers, you will find its 15.6-inch, Full HD, IPS screen to be very useful. As for the graphics, it comes with the Intel Core i5-10210U for those demanding graphics.
Also, you can expect it to deliver right through the finish line. Its lithium battery can give you a solid 11-hour performance.
You may also check out these options from Lenovo for more choices.
8. Huawei MateBook X Pro
If you want something without much fanfare, the MateBook X Pro by Huawei is worth considering. It comes with different features that cover all bases in working remotely.
In terms of portability, it is one of the thinnest from Huawei at 0.19 inches. It is also ultra-lightweight at 2.93 pounds. This means you can slip it inside your backpack with ease.
In terms of durability, its keyboard is spill-proof. You can drink your daily dose of coffee without worrying much about spilling it.
It also uses the Precision Touchpad technology of Microsoft. This allows the laptop to detect your palms and prevent them from accidentally activating commands during typing.
Its 13.9-inch screen comes with an IPS display at 3K resolution. It uses an Intel Core i7 processor and comes with 16GB of RAM.
9. Acer Aspire 5
For a laptop that comes with a 15-inch screen, the Acer Aspire 5 is one of the lightest. Its full-HD display offers decent quality and viewing angles that are enough for writers and bloggers.
The keyboard is another element that your busy fingers will love. The same thing goes for the touchpad.
In terms of power and performance, it features the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U 2.6 GHz up to 3.5 GHz. RAM is 8GB while storage is 256GB SSD.
If there is a downside to the Acer Aspire 5, it is the battery. It can give you up to 7.5 hours of battery life away from the charger.
10. Maximizing the Best Laptop for Remote Work
Now that you have an idea of the best laptops for remote setups, you can zoom in on the features and determine the ones that best suit your needs. Make a list of the key elements you need and streamline your options when buying a laptop.
However, finding the best laptop for remote work is only the start. You need to learn how to unleash its full potential and maximize it.
We invite you to read our other articles on the laptops we discussed and more. Discover some tips and tricks that will help you maximize the power of your laptop of choice.